Years ago I was waiting at a bus stop in a mall terminal. There were 10 or 15 others waiting around me. It was summer and I was dressed accordingly. A car pulled up in the parking lot behind the terminal and a man yelled out at me to come over to his car. I said no, I had never seen the man before and felt uncomfortable. He went on to tell me he had something for me to just come over to his car so he could give it to me. I again said no, I didn’t want whatever it was.
He then got out of his car and came to speak to me. Holding something in his pocket he told me that it was a present for his girlfriend but that he wanted me to have it instead. The man was speaking loudly enough for people around me to hear, I was clearly uncomfortable (at the time I was 19 and looked 15) and yet no one around me interjected or asked if I was okay. This went on for 10-15 minutes this man was following me around the bus stop and parking lot trying to get me to take whatever was in his pocket and trying to convince me to get into his car.
I crossed the parking lot and he got into his car and drove it around to the side I fled to. Eventually he drove off. I called my parents who came to pick me up. I was shook and looking back shocked that not a single person witnessing this happen cared enough to ask me if I was okay. This man was frightening but the indifference of the people around me was equally as frightening. Maybe this is an extreme example but I’m sure I’m not the only one with an experience like this one. Let’s make it stop!
Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?
Standing together, encouraging people to take a stand, raise their voice, interject if you see it happening.
– Amber Farmer
Location: London / Ontario / Canada
Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910
Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for ideas.
